An apology for absence was received from Councillor Sherreard.

URGENT ITEMS

Executive Procedure Rules – Petitions

The Chairman stated that, in his opinion, the oral report of the Head of Democratic Services proposing an amendment to the Executive Procedure Rules relating to the presentation of petitions should be taken as an urgent item to enable any recommendation to the Council to be evaluated by the Standards Committee at its next meeting scheduled to be held on 06 April 2011.

There were no Visiting Members.

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED:  That the Items on the Agenda be taken in public as proposed.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 09 February 2011 be approved as a correct record and signed.

1.  That the final design, as illustrated in Appendix 1 of the report of the Assistant Director of Regeneration and Cultural Services, be agreed.

2.  That phase 1a and 1b, as illustrated in Appendix 3 of the report of the Assistant Director of Regeneration and Cultural Services, be implemented in 2011/12.

3.  That the changes to the Lower High Street, as set out in Appendix 4 of the report of the Assistant Director of Regeneration and Cultural Services, be implemented.

4.  That delegated authority be given to the Assistant Director of Regeneration and Cultural Services, in consultation with Cabinet Member for Regeneration, to agree design changes during the construction period to keep the project within budget if unforeseen circumstances arise.

5.  That a further report is brought to Cabinet to consider the implementation of Phase 2 when capital resources become available.

6.  That the resources for the High Street project be released in accordance with the details set out under the heading Capital Programme to 2014/15 below and the funding for schemes during 2013/14 and 2014/15, as detailed in table 2 below, be dependent upon receipt of future resources and consideration in accordance with the principles set out in the medium term financial strategy.

7.  That Ringway be appointed to undertake stage 2 of its contract,  limited to Phase 1a and Phase 1b, following its successful completion of the Stage 1 Professional Services contract.

8.  That delegated authority be given to the Head of Legal Services to enter into a contract (on terms to be agreed by the Director of Regeneration and Communities) with Ringway to undertake the construction phase of the Stage 2 contract limited to Phase 1a and 1b.

9.  That delegated authority be given to the Head of Legal Services to enter into a contract (on terms to be agreed by the Director of Regeneration and Communities) with Letts Wheeler Architects to undertake the Project Management function of the contractor and Focus to act as Quantity Surveyor on behalf of the Council.

10.  That delegated authority be given to the Head of Legal Services to enter into a Section 278 agreement with Kent County Council to undertake works to the public highway.

11.  That delegated authority be given to the Head of Legal Services to enter into an appropriate legal agreement (on terms to be agreed by the Director of Regeneration and Communities) with Kent County Council to secure their £600,000 contribution to the scheme and their funding of the CDM Coordinator.

DECISION MADE:

1.  That the final design, as illustrated in Appendix 1 of the report of the Assistant Director of Regeneration and Cultural Services, be agreed.

2.  That phase 1a and 1b, as illustrated in Appendix 3 of the report of the Assistant Director of Regeneration and Cultural Services, be implemented in 2011/12.

3.  That the changes to the Lower High Street, as set out in Appendix 4 of the report of the Assistant Director of Regeneration and Cultural Services, be implemented.

4.  That delegated authority be given to the Assistant Director of Regeneration and Cultural Services, in consultation with Cabinet Member for Regeneration, to agree design changes during the construction period to keep the project within budget if unforeseen circumstances arise.

5.  That a further report is brought to Cabinet to consider the implementation of Phase 2 when capital resources become available.

6.  That the resources for the High Street project be released in accordance with the details set out under the heading Capital Programme to 2014/15 below and the funding for schemes during 2013/14 and 2014/15, as detailed in table 2 below, be dependent upon receipt of future resources and consideration in accordance with the principles set out in the medium term financial strategy.

7.  That Ringway be appointed to undertake stage 2 of its contract,  limited to Phase 1a and Phase 1b, following its successful completion of the Stage 1 Professional Services contract.

8.  That delegated authority be given to the Head of Legal Services to enter into a contract (on terms to be agreed by the Director of Regeneration and Communities) with Ringway to undertake the construction phase of the Stage 2 contract limited to Phase 1a and 1b.

9.  That delegated authority be given to the Head of Legal Services to enter into a contract (on terms to be agreed by the Director of Regeneration and Communities) with Letts Wheeler Architects to undertake the Project Management function of the contractor and Focus to act as Quantity Surveyor on behalf of the Council.

10.  That delegated authority be given to the Head of Legal Services to enter into a Section 278 agreement with Kent County Council to undertake works to the public highway.

11.  That delegated authority be given to the Head of Legal Services to enter into an appropriate legal agreement (on terms to be agreed by the Director of Regeneration and Communities) with Kent County Council to secure their £600,000 contribution to the scheme and their funding of the CDM Coordinator.

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The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Regeneration and Communities regarding the future role of the Strategic Housing Advisory Committee (‘SHAC’).

RESOLVED:

1.  That, as part of the review of standing committees, an all-party advisory body for Cabinet and the Cabinet Member for Regeneration be formed with terms of reference as set out below:

Revised Terms of Reference

To give advice to the Cabinet and the Cabinet Member with responsibility for housing on:

a)  Housing Strategy, housing needs and the Housing Investment Programme

b)  The provision of housing including the type, size and tenure

c)  The delivery of new affordable homes

d)  Homelessness, temporary accommodation and the provision of housing advice

e)  The council’s Allocation Scheme and performance  of the housing register

f)  The Supporting People programme

g)  Changes to housing legislation, regulation and policy.

2. That the Council be recommended to:

  i.  Disband the Strategic Housing Advisory Committee

  ii.  Form a new body named the ‘Housing Consultative Board’ for an initial period of 12 months, following which its effectiveness be reviewed, with the terms of reference as set out below:

Revised Terms of Reference

To give advice to the Cabinet and the Cabinet Member with responsibility for housing on:

a)  Housing Strategy, housing needs and the Housing Investment Programme

b)  The provision of housing including the type, size and tenure

c)  The delivery of new affordable homes

d)  Homelessness, temporary accommodation and the provision of housing advice

e)  The council’s Allocation Scheme and performance  of the housing register

f)  The Supporting People programme

g)  Changes to housing legislation, regulation and policy.

  iii.  That the Constitution be amended accordingly.

1.  That the progress against the objectives set in the Corporate Improvement Plan be noted.

2.  That the actions which are out of date and the reasons for this be noted.

3.  That criterion for extending target dates in exceptional circumstances be put in place.

4.  That the responses to the recommendations made by the Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee at the meeting on 01 March 2011(attached at Appendix A) be agreed.

DECISION MADE:

1.  That the progress against the objectives set in the Corporate Improvement Plan be noted.

2.  That the actions which are out of date and the reasons for this be noted.

3.  That criterion for extending target dates in exceptional circumstances be put in place.

4.  That the responses to the recommendations made by the Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee at the meeting on 01 March 2011(attached at Appendix A) be agreed.

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The Cabinet considered the report of the Leader of the Council regarding the Forward Plan for the period 01 April to 31 July 2011.

RESOLVED: That the Forward Plan for the period 01 April to 31 July 2011 be noted, subject to the following amendments:-

Core Strategy 2006-2016:  Cabinet  Moved from 13 April to

Public Consultation Draft  18 May 2011

Annual Performance Plan  Cabinet  New for 08 June 2011 

Energy Purchasing Options  Cabinet Member for  Moved from March

  Corporate Services  to April 2011

The Cabinet considered an oral report of the Head of Democratic Services that the Executive Procedure Rules relating to petitions be amended so that there is no age limit on who can sign a petition or present a petition to the Cabinet or a Cabinet Member.

RECOMMENDED:

1.  That Council agree an amendment to the Executive Procedure Rules relating to petitions so that there is no age limit on who can sign a petition or present a petition to the Cabinet or a Cabinet Member.

2.  That Standards Committee evaluate the above recommendation and submit their comments to Council.

6.30 pm to 6.43 pm.